We connect people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and build lasting relationships between the UK and other countries.   

British Council worldwide   

The numbers behind our work

In 2009, the British Council celebrated 75 years as a world leader in cultural relations: creating opportunities, trust and engagement for the UK, worldwide.
Cultural relations is vital to the future of the UK – it works long-term to foster the co-operation we need for a safe and connected world. Learn more about the British Council's achiviements on the 75th anniversary webpage and watch the video on the power of cultural relations.

The British Council uses the power of education, culture and language to build relationships and create opportunities for the UK in 100 countries and territories around the world.

We employ 7,500 staff.

In 2008/09 we had a total turnover £644.824 million, £119 million of this came as a grant-in-aid from the UK Government.

In 2008/09 we reached over 221 million people and worked closely with over 13.2 million of them.

In recent research, 87 per cent of our UK clients and partners said we can open doors for the UK that no other organisation can.

In a year:

8.5 million people visit our centres   
we help 1.9 million people sit professional and academic exams from the UK   
we teach English to 325,000 learners English in 49 countries - that’s 1.1 million class hours a year plus 50,000 military, police and border guard personnel in 30 countries taking part in our Peacekeeping English project   
we manage over 1,700 arts events   
we answer 2.5 million general enquiries and 35.4 million enquiries a year about opportunities from the UK.   

We are currently leading a government campaign to bring 100,000 more higher and further education students to the UK by 2011.

External research suggests at least 40 per cent of international students in the UK use our education services before coming here

To find out more about our work in 2008/2009 take a look at our annual report.

who we are       

Our rationale and values       

Our strategic objectives       

Our status       

Our history worldwide       

Our approach to Equal Opportunities and Diversity - the Integrated Equality Scheme       

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